India Dominates New Zealand in Second T20I
India secured a commanding 7-wicket victory over New Zealand in the second T20I held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur. Chasing a formidable target of 209, the Men in Blue showcased an aggressive batting display to wrap up the match with nearly five overs to spare. This win gives India a 2-0 lead in the five-match series, continuing their unbeaten streak in the shortest format.
The chase began with a flurry of boundaries despite an early setback. While openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma fell cheaply, Ishan Kishan turned the game on its head. Kishan smashed a breathtaking 76 runs off just 32 balls, including 11 fours and four sixes, putting the New Zealand bowlers on the back foot immediately. His partnership with the captain stabilized the innings and ensured the required run rate remained well under control.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav played a vintage knock, reaching his fifty in just 23 balls. It was a significant milestone for the skipper, marking his first half-century in over a year. He finished unbeaten on 70, playing his trademark 360-degree shots across the ground. Shivam Dube provided the finishing touches with a powerful cameo, hitting multiple sixes to bring up the 200-mark for India in the 15th over.
Earlier, New Zealand posted 208 for 6 after being put in to bat. Mitchell Santner led from the front with a quickfire 47*, while Rachin Ravindra contributed a solid 44. However, Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakaravarthy pulled things back in the middle overs with crucial wickets. Despite a late surge from the visitors, the target proved insufficient against a clinical Indian batting lineup. The teams now head to Guwahati for the third encounter on Sunday.
